There is no set normal theraputic level for methadone.To many factors are involved.I know people that take 30mgs a day and one (me actually) that takes 300mgs a day.Whatever works is the right dose. One thing that will stop a doctor from raising a methadone dose is if the patient is on a benzodiazepine (valium,librrium ect),alcohol,cocaine,barbituates.These drugs greatly increase the risk of respitory failure.There are just to many varibles to name that would determine a dose.80mgs a day is a good dose in my opinion....Dave

3d,my dr. gave me 450 10mg. methadone insane,but I cold turkey in December 05,for amonth I suffered like crazy and 8mo. later I still can't remember a lot of simple things I forgot how to get to certain web sites and alot of other stuff,will never do methadone again,SUBOXONE is the way Sack out~~~~~~~~`

Unfortunetly methadone only comes in 5 and 10 mg pills.I'm at 300mg a day so that would mean I would have to take 30 pills every morning,nay.Methadone should always be used as at last resort and should never be given to opiate naive....Dave

I had an incredible family MD who was a chemist before he went to medical school...his belief was that pure liquid morphine was the best pain killer, pure, no tylenol, and titrateable, if that's a word...you can take as little or as much as needed.

My dr. actually trusted me. I've been working for 16 yrs on misc opiates, in a professional position and he therefore trusted me.
I used the meds as needed to aleviate pain, and be a good therapist to TBI patients. The problem as you know is tolerance tolerance tolerance, and the escalation for therapeutic levels must increase.

I was on methadone once and the IME drs love it cause its a cheap opiate, so is Ultram, btw, just one tenth the strength of one hydro.

If you are on methadone for pain, I'd go to another pain clinic. Otherwise, under other status, you know the rap.

Oh, do I hear you brother--but I have to tell you, get off the Methadone NOW, it'll kill you. My sad story: Started meth in 1986, used it daily. Had stroke in 1998, now have broken back, fibromyalgia (neurological system disease), I was at 115 mgs when I walked away in May,2006 (52 yrs old), nearly died from the meth; nearly died trying to kick.I had seizures, ended up in hospital, don't remember a thing. What saved my life?-A drop of the real opiate will help more than the garbage the drs want to force on you. But, then again, at my age, building up tolerance and addiction again is a small issue compared to the alternative.Please don't wait. Stay away from the poison methadone and find what works for YOU. Believe me, any "help" you get from meth is not worth it, if you live to tell the story. Dig it?

Hey Dave it's Ryan again. Well things are going well. I'm on eighty milligrams a day stable dose and feeling great. One thing I wanted to bring up is that i noticed that you said methadone only comes in five and ten milligram pills, but actually my doctor just prescribed me these "methadose" forty milligram wafers that break in four pieces or you can just take them whole. the thing looks almost like a communion wafer it's that big, but i will say the thing is strong as hell, a lot stronger than taking four ten mg. for some reason, but yeah, i just wanted to let you know, that apparently there are higher dose pills...unless what i'm taking isn't really considered a pill, but i am a lot happier with these, cause i'm not having to keep track of eight pills a day. only problem is that the wafers are so big that i've got to drink nearly two glasses of water to keep it from getting stuck in my throat, but they're really effective. just thought that you might want to know, cause they could be beneficial for you since you are on such a high dose. take care man.

We were somewhere near barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold...

Yes you're right about the 40mg waffer.I was thinking of here in Canada but even that has now changed.You can order methadone pills in Canada and they are called Metadol,they come in 5,10 and 25mg pills.I have the 25mg pills ordered for me for breakthru pain.I'm only allowed 1 aweek as we are just trying it out.I'll let you guys know how they work.So far I would have to say they work pretty good but I've only taken 2 doses........Dave

I have the 40mg wafers too but the script said to put them in 4 ounces of water in a cup of course and stir it and let it dissolve and drink it dowm.I take it this way one in the am and one in the pm. I stay with what the doc says, most of the time

methadone use

methadone is the same whether it is 10mg or 40 mg pills. the only thing just like all other opiates methadone your body will get used to and you will need more for pain control, just a little slower than other opiates. great for pain though. horrible withdraw worse than >>>>>>. as far as taking other drugs with methadone taking 2 or 3 5 mg valiums with your methadone dose for the day will have a >>>>>> like rush on your body. that is becoming known even in the doctor community, so most that know will stop prescribing benzos with the methadone. i take them both and it feels wonderful.i will say though that methadone for pain control is the best medication i have ever taken. the valium helps to.lol

Methadone for pain

Methadone can be used for pain treatment without a question, just from what I seem to hear and see, the withdrawal is pretty hellish even compared with the withdrawal of other powerful opioid receptor agonists that can be used for pain management. I guess the long duration of effects as well as cost of methadone help boost it's popularity. All that aside, as for the best pain relief, id have to disagree with the following about morphine:

Originally Posted by PaulRemski777

TripleDiscountinWack [)]

I had an incredible family MD who was a chemist before he went to medical school...his belief was that pure liquid morphine was the best pain killer, pure, no tylenol, and titrateable, if that's a word...you can take as little or as much as needed.

My dr. actually trusted me. I've been working for 16 yrs on misc opiates, in a professional position and he therefore trusted me.
I used the meds as needed to aleviate pain, and be a good therapist to TBI patients. The problem as you know is tolerance tolerance tolerance, and the escalation for therapeutic levels must increase.

I was on methadone once and the IME drs love it cause its a cheap opiate, so is Ultram, btw, just one tenth the strength of one hydro.

If you are on methadone for pain, I'd go to another pain clinic. Otherwise, under other status, you know the rap.

If one can say morphine is the best, then I guess >>>>>>/diacetylmorphine would be better (aside from the fact that it is DEA sched I) right? Tests show that IV diamorphine is marginally safer than morphine when given in equianalgesic doses...that and you can use smaller amounts, less fluid to stick into a vein seems good to me. And what about fentanyl and it's various analogues? Lower dependence liability as well as lower levels of CNS depression when given in equianalgesic doses as well, significantly lower. Only issue would be giving the micrograms needed and not accidentaly ODing the patient.

3 discs

Hey guys and gals,
Here in Northeastern Pennsylvania they prescribe alot of the 40mg wafers. They are to be dissolved in water and drank down. Usually one in the AM will keep you good until the next morning. I was on 180mgs of methadone for opiate abuse. The best thing I ever did was to switch to Suboxone. The withdrawls from methadone (liquid handcuffs) are brutal. For about 5 days I thought I was going to die. I wrecked 3 brand new vehicles on methadone. Eventually it takes over your entire life. In my honest opinion your better off with oxycontin or percocet 10's. ONLY use methadone as a VERY last resort. I now take 16mgs of suboxone daily and I have never felt better. Methadone keeps you in a stoned like state, that you don't even notice until you get off of it. Good Luck to everyone taking methadone and please consider suboxone for you own sake.

Originally Posted by opiattire

Hey Dave it's Ryan again. Well things are going well. I'm on eighty milligrams a day stable dose and feeling great. One thing I wanted to bring up is that i noticed that you said methadone only comes in five and ten milligram pills, but actually my doctor just prescribed me these "methadose" forty milligram wafers that break in four pieces or you can just take them whole. the thing looks almost like a communion wafer it's that big, but i will say the thing is strong as hell, a lot stronger than taking four ten mg. for some reason, but yeah, i just wanted to let you know, that apparently there are higher dose pills...unless what i'm taking isn't really considered a pill, but i am a lot happier with these, cause i'm not having to keep track of eight pills a day. only problem is that the wafers are so big that i've got to drink nearly two glasses of water to keep it from getting stuck in my throat, but they're really effective. just thought that you might want to know, cause they could be beneficial for you since you are on such a high dose. take care man.

We were somewhere near barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold...

Hey Sack, WOW 450 pills!!! That DR must be insane. What was the dosage?? 20 tens a day?? I follow my Drs script to the T.I'm just looking to live life without so much pain.

Are you finding that Methadone works to control pain? how does it compare to morphine for pain control? [if you ever had any]

I am impressed to hear you say you are following the 'script, congrats. I used to do that, for 10 years I took it "as prescribed", but then when they tightened up on amounts, what could I do but started buying it, and then things went downhill because there was no longer a definate upper limit. Excuses yes, but reality too.

TheGuest you are right about Diamorphine being the most effective pain killer. It is absurd that is not available fore prescription in the US. It is used in England for Cancer patients whp have pain that does not respond to any other opioid or other pain patients in a similar situation. It is simply the ridiculous stigma that ignorant people have that Diamorphine (>>>>>>) is so much more addictive than any other opioid when in reality Oxymorphone, Hydromorphone, and Levorphanol are all just as addictive if not more, and a fair amount of addicts actually prefer those drugs to >>>>>>, they simply are much harder to find (depsite the fact that they are all legal and >>>>>> isnt). That just goes to show how ineffective banning a substance is, >>>>>> is more available than the other prescription drugs that are legal. So who is the >>>>>> ban really hurting, PEOPLE WHO ARE IN PAIN OBVIOUSLY! It is a tragedy that the DEA has ruined the treatment of pain in this country and is attempting to clamp down even more.

Anyway, back on subject. Yes Methadone is a great painkiller, I take 20mg per day, 10mg AM 10mg PM and it does an excellent job of taking care of my pain. It was the first long acting med I went on, becasue my doctor was afraid of addiction (I am only 18), but I had been on dilaudid for about 6 months before that, taking 4mg a couple times a day. SO i was far from opioid naive. It did sedate me a lot for the first couple of weeks, but then after that I adjusted to the med and was fine. It has really saved my life, I was in so much pain I could hardly do anything but lay in bed everyday, now I am in college and I havent missed a class yet. Though my social life definately is not to active still, but I am doing infintely better than I was 8 months ago.

Methadone - Suboxone

Hello everyone!
This is actually my first post, I usually just read and learn from you guys. I was reading your post regarding methadone and suboxone. I have been on methadone before, but have never taking the suboxone.

While on methaone, no one ever warned me of the dangers of mixing benzos, so on on occasion I would take a xanax to sleep and I would wonder why I was so comatosed(?).
I also did alot of research about methadone when it was given to me and what I found was unlike other pain meds it builds it's self up in your system and therefore causing the withdrawl unbearable and could last up to 10-12 wks.

I had a friend ask their Dr. about Suboxone and the dr told him you could also get hooked on it and have to go through the same process, but from what you guys are saying - you seem to be doing great on it.

Help Methadone Question

HI ALL IM NEW ANYWAY I WANTED TO GET SOME OPIONS SINCE THEY DONT HAVE 40S AT PHARMACY WITCH WHAT I WAS TAKEN. THE ORANGE ONES NOT WHITE. I WAS WONDERING WITCH BRAND IS BETTER. REMEMBER THIS IS ONLY OPIONS. IT WOULD BE OUT OF

methadone doseage

Originally Posted by 3discsoutofwhack

What's the highest milligrams of methadone a doctor would perscribe for back pain ??? What's the normal amount ?

I am taking 120 mg of Methadone per day for back pain. Everyone I talk to including those in the medical profession says that is way too much. I also take 5 mg of Xanax, an Antidepressant Wellbutrin, and a sleeping aid and let's not forget a laxative. I am already building a tolerance and don't know what to do. Any suggestions?

change meds

If you have been on any one pain med for more than six months you should consider asking your Physician to switch you to another medication. Even if the other meds do not work as well you should stay on them for three months. When you switch back to methadone you should be able to have some pain relieve with a smaller dosage. Your tolerance for one type of pain meds increases the longer you take it. If you switch meds often your body doesn't have a chance to build a tolerance.

methadone is the same whether it is 10mg or 40 mg pills. the only thing just like all other opiates methadone your body will get used to and you will need more for pain control, just a little slower than other opiates. great for pain though. horrible withdraw worse than >>>>>>. as far as taking other drugs with methadone taking 2 or 3 5 mg valiums with your methadone dose for the day will have a >>>>>> like rush on your body. that is becoming known even in the doctor community, so most that know will stop prescribing benzos with the methadone. i take them both and it feels wonderful.i will say though that methadone for pain control is the best medication i have ever taken. the valium helps to.lol

Unfortunetly methadone only comes in 5 and 10 mg pills.I'm at 300mg a day so that would mean I would have to take 30 pills every morning,nay.Methadone should always be used as at last resort and should never be given to opiate naive....Dave

amen, methadone should be given out in low doses in the beginning. and can be upped, if it does not help. but unless you've been an addict, (like a >>>>>> addict for many years) they still started me out on only 20mgs. and made me wait an hour before they gave me the other 20.
and if your ever planning on detoxing off of methadone, do it very slowly. 5mgs at a time. and i did that 5mgs / month. when i got down to 20 mgs. then i started adding water to my 10 mg pills, and went down 1 mg a month. until i was finally off. it took a long time. but i eventually got off. but methadone saved my life.
and i'm planning on getting back on it, due to my back pain and fractured ankle, and osteoporosis. and osteoarthritis, and degenerative disc disease.
otherwise i think i'm going to loose my mind.

I'm new, I wanted to see the max dose a person takes for chronic pain.

Originally Posted by malissalp

If you have been on any one pain med for more than six months you should consider asking your Physician to switch you to another medication. Even if the other meds do not work as well you should stay on them for three months. When you switch back to methadone you should be able to have some pain relieve with a smaller dosage. Your tolerance for one type of pain meds increases the longer you take it. If you switch meds often your body doesn't have a chance to build a tolerance.

Sad part is when you've been on it for so many years for chronic pain, then you can't just switch' but I have found methadone works better than anything they have given me for my back. I can have a life, but it's sad because you do build a tolerance after time goes on. I'm taking 50mg in the morning and 50 at night and now I'm getting to need more. I was wanting to no the max a person can take?

Methadone in canada for pain

Originally Posted by mpvt

Unfortunetly methadone only comes in 5 and 10 mg pills.I'm at 300mg a day so that would mean I would have to take 30 pills every morning,nay.Methadone should always be used as at last resort and should never be given to opiate naive....Dave

I take metadol 25 mg in Canada but I need to find a new doctor my old pain center is 3 hours away, I moved to Trenton Ontario from Oakville. Done go to a Addiction center they treat you like cramp. I was getting 6 25mg a day two months at a time with 3 repeats. They want me to pee every week and only pick up 7 days of pills they said its guidelines. But this was not want they told me when I went there for information. Actually that place is really degrading. Does anyone know of a GP in this area ? From Oshawa to Kingston would be o/k?